Therapeutic applicator employing vapor passed through a beam of radiant energy



THERAPEUTIC APPLICATOR EMPLOYING VAPOR PASSED THROUGH A BEAM OF RADIANTENERGY 7 Filed Dec. 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1934. F R A r AL1,945,856

IN VEN TOR 5 ATTORNEY 1934- F. R. HART El AL 45,856

THERAPEUTIC APPLICATOR EMPLOYING VAPOR PASSED THROUGH A BEAM OF RADIANTENERGY Filed Dec. 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 7. ATTORNEY- Patented Feb.6, 1934 UNITED STATES THERAPEUTIC APPLICATOR EMPLOYING VAPOR PASSEDTHROUGH A BEAM OF RADIANT ENERGY Frank R. Hart and Sally W. Lasher,Pacific Grove, Calif.

Application December 23, 1931 Serial N0.-582,830

, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to therapeutic applicators employing vapor passedthrough a beam of radiant energy, and is an improvement on our copendingapplication filed November 13, 1931, for Improvements in ultraviolet raysteam inhalers, Serial No. 574,896.

The applicators of this invention provide means to pass vapor through abeam of ultraviolet light, or other suitable energy, and deposit suchvapor in the body, either by inhalation or by projection.

For the purpose of this specification,.vapor that has been passedthrough a beam of radiant energy may be referred to as having beenRayized.

We do not attempt to explain what takes place when vapor is rayized inthe manner indicated, but in our practice of this invention we haveproved that patients suffering from affections of the respiratorytracts, colds etc. are greatly benefited by a few treatments.

The vapor we have used is ordinary steam without medication but whichhas been rayized. We believe that vapor produced by a conventionalatomizer, when sprayed through a beam of ultraviolet light would havethe same effect; and we assume that the Well known lethal effect ofthese rays on micro-organisms is in some way taken on by the vapor whenrayized.

Our inhaler applicators deposit the rayized vapor by naturalinspiration.

For treatment of the urethra, the rectum, and the vagina, the presentapplication discloses means whereby rayized vapor can be introduced tosuch'parts under pressure, it could also be sprayed on the gums to treatpyorrhea and variously applied for other therapeutic purposes.

At present ultraviolet ray machines represent an outlay of severalhundred dollars; therefore in order not to monopolize one whole machineWhile treating one patient we disclose a device whereby multipletreatment may be had simultaneously.

The objects of our invention comprise the following desiderata:

To provide a novel bezel for the lens of an ultraviolet ray machine orlamp, said bezel besides forming means to retain the lens of the lamp inposition, carries means wherewith to engage an applicatory device havingcomplementary means to afford a water-tight joint between the bezel andthe device. I

To provide novel means to introduce vapor into cavities of the bodyunder pressure.

To provide an applicator with novel means to reduce the heat given offby some forms of ultraviolet ray machines or lamps.

To provide a novel device associated with a source of steam and having arelief check valve and a port arranged to admit a regulable influx ofair to cool the steam before its dispensation.

To provide a sump arranged to catch the water of condensation whichaccumulates during treatment, and a drain cock to relieve the sump atsuitable intervals.

To provide a novel mouth-and-nose inhaling element.

To provide a device arranged to treat several patients at the same time;together with further objects and advantages hereinafter appearing,particularly pointed out in the claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings attached hereto and made part hereof, in which:-

Figure 1. is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the generalarrangement of our invention in one embodiment.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of our invention as attached to anultraviolet ray lamp or machine, the steam kettle not shown.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of an applicator of the presentinvention with parts cut away. I

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

' Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the device taken on the line ofV-V of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line VIVI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the bezel element.

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 10. r

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the ultraviolet ray lamp with theinhaler attached an carrying the mouth and nose applicator.

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the inhaler showing the steamkettle in reduced proportion and attached thereto.

Figure 11 shows the inhaler carrying an atomizer cooperative therewith.

Figure 12 is a mid-longitudinal sectional view showing the lower half ofa pressure applicator carrying a vaginal tip.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of a device having multiple inhalerelements.

Figure 14 is a section taken on the line XIV- XIV of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a section taken on the line XVXV of Figure 16 Figure 16 isa front elevational view of the mouth and nose applicatory element and.1

Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the check valve set intothe vapor pipe.

Similar reference indicia refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews:-

Referring particularly to the drawings:-

Figure 1 shows the steam kettle K connected with the applicator drum Bby the vapor pipe .5.

The cooling valve C is provided in said pipe adjacent the outlet of thekettle K and comprises the axially displaceable sleeve 6 a slidable fiton the pipe 5 between the collars 7-7 which are suitably spaced apart toexpose the port 8 and admit air in regulable quantities to said vaporline sufficiently to cool the vapor to a degree agreeable to thepatient; said sleeve being adjustable by the patient through manualoperation of the button 9, all well shown in Figure 10. The check valve10 is interposed between the valve C and the drum B, and is arranged torelieve steam pressure in the kettle and to serve another purpose laterappearing. The applicator element comprises the cylindrical drum B,provided at the forward end thereof with means for removably attachingthereto an applicatory instrument, which means may well be nipple 11.

The rear wall 12 of said drum is apertured at 13 to admit the radiantlight from the lamp A to shine into the drum and is provided with thehook 14 adapted to engage the complemental aperture 15 of the bezel 16;and, further provided with the swinging latch-bolt 17 adapted to engagethe slot 18 of the bezel and be locked by the nut 19, when so engagedand furnished with the rubber gasket 20 centered on the annular shoulder21 .said parts constitute a water-tight joint between said light andsaid drum, with ability for radiant light, such as ultraviolet rays, toflood the interior of the drum. It being understood that the lamp lens22, well shown in Figure 4, forms a portion of the rear wall of saiddrum.

The drum B may be formed with a single outer shell 23 as shown inFigures 12 and 14, or may be provided with theinner tubular wall member24 to form the annular space for circulation of .a cooling medium asshown in Figure 5, a form adaptable for use with lamps of the Kromayertype which emit a pre-cooled light.

For lamps which emit uncooled radiant light the cooling medium has topass through the ray beam in order to cool the rays. To accomplish thisthe rear end of the member 24 is severed from the rear wall 12 and. thelens 25 is provided to supply a ray-permeable closure for the coolingarea.

The pipes 26 and 27 are the respective inlets and outlets for thecirculation of cooling medium, which ordinarily is'water from a suitablesource and arranged to waste into a sewer or an appropriate wastereceptacle.

The pipe 5 leads the vapor completely into the light beam where itbecomes rayized or saturated by the radiant energy.

The drain 28 conducts the condensed steam into the sump 29 provided withthe drain-cock 30. The pressure bulb 31 is in open communica-.- tionwith the pipe 5. Obviously, when the cook 30 is closed pressure upon thebulb 31 Willclose the check 10 and vapor contained within the applicatorwill be forcibly expelled, through any hollow applicatory instrumentwhich may be attached to the nipple 11.

The instrument 32 Figure 2 is adapted to administer vapor to theurethra; the instrument 33 is suitable for the rectum, and theinstrument 34 is for the vagina.

With each relaxation of pressure the bulb 31 resumes its normal shapeand in doing so opens the check 10 and sucks in another charge of vaporwhich immediately becomes rayized and is ready to be discharged into theorgan.

As shown in Figure 9 the drum B is arranged for inhaling the rayizedvapor in which case the pressure bulb 31 is not needed, and the mouthand nose element D is substituted for said applicatory instruments. Saidelement may be attached to the drum B direct as shown in said figure, orit maybe attached by a hose 35 as shown in Figures 13 and 16. Theelement D comprises the mouth-piece 36, the bi-furcated nostril members3737, the outwardly-operative check 38 and the exhaust element 39 bymeans of which the vapor may be expelled.

Figure 13 shows a relatively larger drum having a plurality of outlets35 which may be either flexible .hose or pipes, each provided with anelement D.

In Figure 11 we show our inhaler device carrying an atomizer element E,adapted and arranged to convey vapor into the ray beam from the vessel40through the pipe 5 into the drum B.

It should be noted that the nipple 11 is tapered outwardly and that therespective applicatory instruments have the tapering walls 41 and arebored taper at the large end to fit over said taper of said nipple.

It should be explained that the bulb 31 is only needed when rayizedvapor is to be forced into non-respiratory cavities, in which casepressure upon said bulb expells the rayized vapor from theinstrument,-the clack 10' being closed. Release of the bulb draws in afresh charge of mixed air and vapor through the pipe 5, by opening theclack 10 normally closed against the seat 10, the valve element 0 beingadjusted to admit the required influx of air, which completes the cycle.

It is believed that our invention and the advantages to be derived fromit are fully explained. In reducing the invention to practice, certainminor features in construction, combination and arrangement of parts maynecessitate alteration to which the patentees are entitled, providingsuch alteration is comprehended in the scope of what is claimed.

. What we claim is:

'1. Inanapparatus of the kind described having asource of radiant energyand a source of vapor, a receptacle in the radiant path, and a conduitto convey vapor from said source to said receptacle; a check valve insaid conduit adapted to open outwardly from the vapor source and amanually operable bulbous element in communication with the conduit tocreate pressure to close said check valve and simultaneously expel saidvapor from the receptacle via an applicatory instrument.

2. In apparatus of the kind described, having a source of radiant energyand a source of heated vapor, a receptacle for the vapor comprising adrum disposed in the radiant path; means to circulate a cooling mediumin the drum, a hollow inner member carried by the forward end of saiddrum and extending backwardly toward the rear end thereof, aray-permeable lens mounted concentric with the rays in the rear end ofsaid memher, said lens adapted to exclude said cooling medium from saidmember and permit it to cross the rays.

1 FRANK R. HART.

SALLY W. LASHER.

